Nigga (, pronounced identically to nigger in some dialects) is a colloquial term used in Black English Vernacular that began as an eye dialect form of the word nigger (a word originated as a term used in a neutral context to refer to black people, as a variation of the Spanish/Portuguese noun negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective , meaning the color "black").

(n) Curseword used originally by white people, taken over by black people as a name to show their proudness, and take off the edge; positive: "my nigga": my friend. I don't want to be called yo nigga" -- Public Enemy (Yo nigga [??]).

(n) Curseword used originally by white people, taken over by black people as a name to show their proudness, and take off the edge; positive: "my nigga": my friend. I don't want to be called yo nigga" -- Public Enemy (Yo nigga [??]).